Most electricity users oppose increase in tariff
The Hindu
HUBLI: Complaints of inefficiency, inadequacy of service and absence of the customer friendly attitude on the part of Hubli Electricity Supply Company (HESCOM) poured in at the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) began the two-day public hearing of the 124 objections filed against the move to increase power tariff.
KERC Chairman K.P. Pandey, and members S.D. Ukkali and Subramanyam heard the representations from Uttara Kannada, Gadag, and Bagalkot districts.
The most common complaint was that the HESCOM ignored the complaints from electricity users.
There were complaints that HESCOM collect charges of new connection even for mere change of name in power records.
There were complaints about HESCOM personnel visiting the installations without uniforms, variations in billing and the policy of HESCOM levying minimum rate even while the bills were paid regularly.
S.K. Hegde, I.S. Bhagwat, Aravind Pai, and Gajajan Shanbhag, all from the Electricity Consumers' Forum, Kumta, criticised HESCOM for never responding to complaints.
R.K. Rangrej of the District Electricity Consumers Forum, Gadag, said several anomalies noticed in the applications remained unresolved even today.
There was no reason for the tariff being increased and the practice of indiscriminate increase in tariff should be stopped.
The promised toll-free telephone was yet to materialise. No explanation was given for fuel levy of 25 paise per unit.
S.B. Herur, M.I. Balabatti, Bagalkot Power Consumers' Forum, questioned the need for increasing the power tariff because HESCOM is adept at getting money in the name of many levies.
On Monday, Mr. Pandey said in the fast changing scenario of electricity distribution and supply, the customers should be aware of their rights and obligations.
He stressed on the need to involve the electricity users' associations and non-governmental organisations in creating awareness.
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Demolitions were meant to clear encroachments: Manivannan
Demolitions were meant to clear encroachments: Manivannan
The Hindu
HUBLI: Commissioner of Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation P. Manivannan clarified on Tuesday that the recently concluded demolition drive is not a road widening exercise.
He told the corporation council meeting that the demolition drive was purely to clear the roads of encroachments.
"If we go by the Comprehensive Development Plan, then we will have to give compensation to the tune of Rs. 2,000 crores," he said.
About roads that have been left out in the demolition drive, he said the corporation will clear the encroachments on some other roads that had not been identified for demolition.
"But it will be only after development work like construction of footpaths and drains get completed," he said.
Mr. Manivannan admitted that there were some lapses during the drive for which he owned the responsibility.
"Wherever there were lapses because of which some legal structures were demolished, we will give the owners of the buildings suitable compensation. We will come before the Council with a proposal in this regard," he said.
Although there is no scope for rehabilitating people who had built houses illegally on the corporation property, the corporation will take steps to rehabilitate poor people on humanitarian grounds, he said.
About the "completion certificates" of buildings, he said the corporation will take up the issue after a month. "Residential buildings will be dealt with in the end. First, we will deal with commercial establishments," he said.
Mr. Manivannan said the corporation will issue notices to owners of multi-storeyed buildings to clear the protruding portions.
He told the House that the corporation will soon issue an advertisement in newspapers giving full details on the construction of stairs to shops. As soon as the House met, Ashok Jadhav (Bharatiya Janata Party) moved a call attention motion on the criteria adopted during the demolition drive.
Members, including former Mayors Anilkumar Patil, Dr. Pandurang Patil, Mr. Vijayanand Hoskoti, Mr. Firdous Konnur, Leader of the House Yamanur Gudihal, and Leader of the Opposition Bharathi Patil presented their views.
Although everybody welcomed the demolition drive taken up by the corporation, they pointed out some lapses and urged for corrective measures.
The councillors wanted to know if there will be another demolition drive shortly based on the Master Plan and wanted the district-in-charge minister and the Deputy Commissioner or the State Government itself to clarify in this regard.
Mayor Hanumanthappa Betageri, through a ruling, ordered the Commissioner to make up for the lapses and to correspond with the State Government about the implementation of the Master Plan.
The Hindu
HUBLI: Commissioner of Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation P. Manivannan clarified on Tuesday that the recently concluded demolition drive is not a road widening exercise.
He told the corporation council meeting that the demolition drive was purely to clear the roads of encroachments.
"If we go by the Comprehensive Development Plan, then we will have to give compensation to the tune of Rs. 2,000 crores," he said.
About roads that have been left out in the demolition drive, he said the corporation will clear the encroachments on some other roads that had not been identified for demolition.
"But it will be only after development work like construction of footpaths and drains get completed," he said.
Mr. Manivannan admitted that there were some lapses during the drive for which he owned the responsibility.
"Wherever there were lapses because of which some legal structures were demolished, we will give the owners of the buildings suitable compensation. We will come before the Council with a proposal in this regard," he said.
Although there is no scope for rehabilitating people who had built houses illegally on the corporation property, the corporation will take steps to rehabilitate poor people on humanitarian grounds, he said.
About the "completion certificates" of buildings, he said the corporation will take up the issue after a month. "Residential buildings will be dealt with in the end. First, we will deal with commercial establishments," he said.
Mr. Manivannan said the corporation will issue notices to owners of multi-storeyed buildings to clear the protruding portions.
He told the House that the corporation will soon issue an advertisement in newspapers giving full details on the construction of stairs to shops. As soon as the House met, Ashok Jadhav (Bharatiya Janata Party) moved a call attention motion on the criteria adopted during the demolition drive.
Members, including former Mayors Anilkumar Patil, Dr. Pandurang Patil, Mr. Vijayanand Hoskoti, Mr. Firdous Konnur, Leader of the House Yamanur Gudihal, and Leader of the Opposition Bharathi Patil presented their views.
Although everybody welcomed the demolition drive taken up by the corporation, they pointed out some lapses and urged for corrective measures.
The councillors wanted to know if there will be another demolition drive shortly based on the Master Plan and wanted the district-in-charge minister and the Deputy Commissioner or the State Government itself to clarify in this regard.
Mayor Hanumanthappa Betageri, through a ruling, ordered the Commissioner to make up for the lapses and to correspond with the State Government about the implementation of the Master Plan.
‘Govt must improve infrastructure with help from pvt firms’
‘Govt must improve infrastructure with help from pvt firms’
DH News Service Hubli
Hubli:Mr Kalyani said that academic institutions are nurseries for high-quality human resources.
Mr B N Kalyani, Chairman, Bharath Forge Company Limited, Pune, on Monday urged the government to take urgent steps to radically improve physical infrastructure wherever necessary, in partnership with the private sector.
Speaking at the inauguration of the platinum jubilee celebrations of the Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry here, he wanted the government to rationalise tax structures, accelerate labour reforms and facilitate development of skills.
The State government, with assistance from the Asian Development Bank had initiated the North Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development Project at a total project cost of Rs 1,800 crore. It was gratifying to know that the twin cities of Hubli and Dharwad have been included in the 25 towns and cities under this project.
Better facilities
Local industry could look forward to better water supply, sewage system, storm water drains, solid waste management, urban roads, fire and emergency services.
These improved facilities would contribute in attracting more investments in the region, said Mr Kalyani.
Mr Kalyani said he foresees tremendous changes in the Hubli-Dharwad region in the next 3-5 years.
These would mainly be driven through partnership between various stakeholders. However, the key element would be the spirit of entrepreneur ship that flourishes here.
The entrepreneurs among them leverage the inherent strengths in the region to derive advantage for their business.
Competitive advantage
In the next 3-5 years the focus should be to leverage the strong educational infrastructure in Hubli-Dharwad to build competitive advantage. “If you are able to develop world-class intellectual capacities and capabilities among local people in agriculture, infrastructure, manufacturing industry and services, it will be a source of long-term advantage that will then attract large capital investments in the region. Your region is well positioned in every way to follow this strategy,” he said.
He said the academic institutions were nurseries for high-quality human resources that were a critical input for them to compete successfully in the global economy.
They need to develop a cadre of global managers - people who were technically sound, proficient and well-equipped and who have the ability to operate across borders with confidence; could raise above regions and cultures; revel in diversity and could operate in spite of high ambiguity and frustration.
They should start at the grassroots-permit industry through industry associations to get actively involved in the running of ITIs and government polytechnics by providing faculty and in framing syllabus and course curricula.
If this was done, students passing out of these institutions would be better equipped with skills relevant to industry and thus could contribute more effectively at the work place, he said.
DH News Service Hubli
Hubli:Mr Kalyani said that academic institutions are nurseries for high-quality human resources.
Mr B N Kalyani, Chairman, Bharath Forge Company Limited, Pune, on Monday urged the government to take urgent steps to radically improve physical infrastructure wherever necessary, in partnership with the private sector.
Speaking at the inauguration of the platinum jubilee celebrations of the Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry here, he wanted the government to rationalise tax structures, accelerate labour reforms and facilitate development of skills.
The State government, with assistance from the Asian Development Bank had initiated the North Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development Project at a total project cost of Rs 1,800 crore. It was gratifying to know that the twin cities of Hubli and Dharwad have been included in the 25 towns and cities under this project.
Better facilities
Local industry could look forward to better water supply, sewage system, storm water drains, solid waste management, urban roads, fire and emergency services.
These improved facilities would contribute in attracting more investments in the region, said Mr Kalyani.
Mr Kalyani said he foresees tremendous changes in the Hubli-Dharwad region in the next 3-5 years.
These would mainly be driven through partnership between various stakeholders. However, the key element would be the spirit of entrepreneur ship that flourishes here.
The entrepreneurs among them leverage the inherent strengths in the region to derive advantage for their business.
Competitive advantage
In the next 3-5 years the focus should be to leverage the strong educational infrastructure in Hubli-Dharwad to build competitive advantage. “If you are able to develop world-class intellectual capacities and capabilities among local people in agriculture, infrastructure, manufacturing industry and services, it will be a source of long-term advantage that will then attract large capital investments in the region. Your region is well positioned in every way to follow this strategy,” he said.
He said the academic institutions were nurseries for high-quality human resources that were a critical input for them to compete successfully in the global economy.
They need to develop a cadre of global managers - people who were technically sound, proficient and well-equipped and who have the ability to operate across borders with confidence; could raise above regions and cultures; revel in diversity and could operate in spite of high ambiguity and frustration.
They should start at the grassroots-permit industry through industry associations to get actively involved in the running of ITIs and government polytechnics by providing faculty and in framing syllabus and course curricula.
If this was done, students passing out of these institutions would be better equipped with skills relevant to industry and thus could contribute more effectively at the work place, he said.
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